How to make wings?

[Hadrian]

Hello

We are having a party and I am thinking about making a few pairs of detachable wings like the models were wearing in the latest Victoria's Secret fashion show. I was wondering if anyone had any experience doing this. If you haven't seen the show, they are detachable angel wings that have perhaps a 4 foot wingspan. It is important that they are not fused into the costume so they can be removed for "other" activities.

I have a series of questions:

How do you make the frame?
It is important to be as light as possible without being so fragile that they do not survive having a couple of drinks. That would imply aluminum (which I do not know how to shape) or balsa wood (super fragile). Does anyone have any better ideas?

How to connect the wings to the girls?
On the fashion show, some of them used a hard frame that hooked over the girls' shoulders. I would like to avoid this as it would look cheezy with corsets. So I had a couple of ideas:
- Costume jewelry - some kind of choker around the neck and maybe a belly chain around the waist. It would have to fit with the corset but I can pull that off.
- Also, maybe I could use the existing closures on the back of the corset (eye holes) but I am not sure it will be strong enough.
Does anyone have any experience with this or any better ideas?

How do you connect the feathers?
So, I assume glue is going to be involved in this but I do not exactly how to do it. What kind of material should I wrap the frame in? Is there any trick to gluing feathers?

What material should I use for the bat wings?
Most of the projects are going to be angel wings with feathers but I thought I would do at least one with bat wings. What kind of material should I use? Leather is going to be way too heavy. Does anyone have any suggestions for a material that simulates animal hide (bat wings) but was light enough for a small woman?

Thanks again for any suggestions you might have
Hadrian

 

[Hotred911]

I have no idea on how to even start making them. But I do know that most any costume store, and some adult stores carry them. Not sure how much you planned on spending on the materials to make them, but it might be easier to buy them.


*sounds like a fun party, btw!*

 

[cyberski]

Easiest way??


Order them here:
http://www.faeriegrove.com/wings.html

 

[Weird Harold]

How do you make the frame?
It is important to be as light as possible without being so fragile that they do not survive having a couple of drinks. That would imply aluminum (which I do not know how to shape) or balsa wood (super fragile). Does anyone have any better ideas?

For the feathered wings, my first attempt would be a combination of posterboard and Wire Coat hangers for the basic shape attached to a square of corrugated cardboard.

For the Bat Wings, I'd try just a coathanger frame first, but the poster board base might work too.

How to connect the wings to the girls?
On the fashion show, some of them used a hard frame that hooked over the girls' shoulders. I would like to avoid this as it would look cheezy with corsets.

Your choker idea will probably work if you can make the wings light enough. If they're too heavy, a choker will choke the wearer.

Since you're worried about appearances with a corset, perhaps something lie a garter belt strap that clips to the corset beween the breasts and runs over the shoulders would work best. With the right material and clasps, it should look like a part of the corset -- like removeable bra straps.

If the Wings are primarily supported by the shoulder straps, then the bottom can be be pinned or hooked into the corest ties in back to avoid a belly band showingin front.

How do you connect the feathers?
So, I assume glue is going to be involved in this but I do not exactly how to do it. What kind of material should I wrap the frame in? Is there any trick to gluing feathers?

You can sew the feathers to a cloth or gauze base, but I thnk a hot glue gun would work best.

You will need to set each feather with a spot of hot glue on the end of the quill, working from the bottom up. (It's going to take a lot of feathers and and a lot of time.

You can get a "down" effect by coating the base with Elmer's Glue (or other white craft glue) and dumping a pillow full of feathers on it while the glue is wet. Let the glue dry overnight and shake the loose feathers back into the pillow.

What material should I use for the bat wings?

I think black Crepe Paper would work best. You could also try a black vinyl -- like a large trash bag or ground cover -- depending on how shiny you want the wings to be. You can control the shine on vinyl wings to get a leathery texture by spray painting it grey and wiping the paint off before it dries.

One additional thing to consider:

Make sure you hinge the wings where they attach to the base-plate/harness. If you don't your models will have trouble going through doors. Hinging the wings will also make them look a bit less "fake" because they'll be able to move independently instead of being a single solid piece.

 

[Hadrian]

Hey Harold

Thanks for your advice. I had not considered the hinge in doorway problem.

Thanks again
Hadrian

 

[5pintshefound]

ok, im thinking that your best bet would be to start with some kind of chicken wire type.. not sure exactly what... but depending on how y ou do it --i think it would work, next, i would wrap the entire thing in some sort of super stretchy nylon {like bathing suit material--you can get it at your local fabric store} and forputting on the feathers, it would look better if you sewed each one on individually, but ;you could glue it too... also for hte frame, you could always try to fashion it out of wire about clotheshanger strength..

i wouldnt try the choker idea unless completely necessary, personally ithink that the wings are going to be to heavy, and the girls wearing them will be feeling like they are choking the entire night.

also, i know you thought that the hard frame looked cheesey... what if you feathered it also, and made it look like the wings started there??
my DH just piped up, what about 1/4 inch plastic tubing??
oh, and for bat wings, at the local fabric store you can find black material that looks kinda oily-- would be perfect, its very very light{almost -but not quite see thru}
hope this helps!?!? if you get it done, please send a pic of it!!!

~5PHF

 

[Treeview]

How Coll has some nice costumes and the prices seem reasonable too.

http://www.howcool.com/xtccostumes/

Treeview